If you are preparing for your first private flight, there’s a few things you need to know before you “take off.” Flying in a private jet is a totally different experience than that of flying on a commercial plane.

Commercial airlines have endless requirements and strict processes. While a private flight certainly has protocol that should be followed, there’s a bit more wiggle room. Read on to learn more about what you need to do to prepare for your first private flight.

Ready to Soar

Preparing for your first private flight doesn’t have to be stressful. Think luxury and your plans will follow suit. Don’t act like anything goes just because it’s a private flight. Be respectful of staff and everyone’s time. Pack your bags, grab your keys, and make sure you remember to water your plants before you leave! Just follow the below tips to help you feel ready for your first private flight experience.

Dress Code

Typically, when you’re packing, you may find yourself tossing in all kinds of clothing from casual wear to formal attire and what you wear on a flight doesn’t usually matter. That is not always the case on a private flight. In most cases, private flights have a host and you may be a guest on the flight.

If you’re a guest on a private flight, it’s highly recommended that you dress accordingly. It will depend on your matter of business. Usually business casual is the most acceptable style of clothing on a private flight, but you can also wear a nice pair of jeans too.

There may be occasions where you should wear formal attire but your safest bet is to avoid wearing extremely casual wear like jogging suits, oversized hoodies and gym clothes. Afterall, private flights are all about luxury and sweatpants don’t necessarily exude opulence.

Luggage

When checking in your luggage for a commercial flight, it doesn’t matter if you go one too many suitcases over your limit…just pay the extra money and they’ll accommodate your needs. This is not true for private jets. Most of the private flights you’ll end up taking will be on small jets.

These smaller planes can’t accommodate for luggage like a commercial plane can because of smaller compartment doors and spaces. Think about the spaces you see for carry-on bags; this is about what the staff will have to accommodate all of your luggage.

This is really something to consider when packing luggage especially if you’re not the only guest on the flight. If you use soft luggage it’ll be easier for the staff to adjust your bags so you don’t have to get extra luggage shipped.

Identification and Seating

A great perk to private flights, and there are plenty, is that you don’t need to deal with endless security and identification measures to board the plane. You will still need I.D. to enter. For an international flight, have your passport handy. For a domestic flight, a driver’s license will do.

When it comes to seating one of the best parts about private flights is that you’re not going to be jammed into an assigned seat. On a private jet, only the host or owner will have a specific seat.

Usually seating is a bit more flexible on a private flight, but you might be directed to a designated area and sometimes a designated seat. That being said, it’s still much more comfortable than a commercially assigned seat.

Parking Procedures

As you approach your private jet to load your bags for the flight, you can bring your car close to the aircraft. Make sure you that your wheels are opposite of the plan and put the car in park. An extra safety measure to ensure there’ll be no mishaps is to put your parking brake on.

You don’t want to be in such close parking proximity to the plane and forget to park only to have your call roll towards the aircraft. After you’ve unloaded your luggage, your car will be parked and taken care of until your return.

Tips and Booking

On a private flight, be prepared to tip your pilot. Private plane pilots do more than just fly the plane. They take care of the planning process and several aspects of the trip along with cleaning the aircraft. They are also not paid as well as a commercial pilot.

That being said, bring along a nice tip to thank the pilot for their time and efforts. Because it’s considered a luxury flight, don’t cheap out and hand the pilot $5, start with at least $20 and factor in your experience and the flight length.

Don’t wait until the last moment to book a flight. Although you can book most private flights with fairly limited time, it’s not always a good idea to wait for the day of. Consider your needs for the tips and the accommodations that you desire. If you want to get to your destination quicker, or if you want a certain look and feel for your flight, it’s better to book in advance so workers can select the best type of plane for your experience.